Mario Balotelli has responded to false reports claiming that super-agent Mino Raiola had passed away on Thursday.
Balotelli, who's represented by Raiola, hit out at reports from Italy stating the 54-year-old died following a serious illness.
He expressed his anger online, saying the media outlets who shared the disputed reports should be 'ashamed'.
The former Manchester City and Liverpool striker wrote on his Instagram story: "You need to be first huh? Shame on you and seriously be ashamed of your education, respect, values and responsibilities! #StayStrongMino."
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Balotelli also uploaded a picture of him and Raiola, accompanied with the caption: "Mino, why do they always say bullsh*t?
"Mario, I told you when you were a child that newspapers are sellers of bullsh*t to get to the top! The important thing is to always get back up."
Balotelli and Raiola have had a working relationship for a number of years, with the Italian agent engineering his moves to Inter Milan and Man City and then onto AC Milan and Liverpool.
A tweet from Raiola's Twitter account also slammed reports of his death.
A message appeared on his Twitter which reads: "Current health status for the ones wondering: pi**ed off second time in 4 months they kill me. Seem also able to ressuscitate [sic]."
Alberto Zangrillo, head of the Intensive Care Unit at San Raffaele Hospital in Milan, wasn't happy with the false reports either.
He told Italian news agency ANSA: "I am outraged by phone calls from so-called journalists speculating on the life of a man who is fighting."
It's understood Raiola has been battling an unspecified illness for some time and his entourage said he underwent 'routine checks' at San Raffaele in January.
Topics: Football, Mino Raiola, Mario Balotelli
Nasir Jabbar